Wound healing studies of Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. with supportive action of antioxidant enzymes.

Aristolochia bracteolata is a perennial herb, the leaves of which are used by the native tribals and villagers of the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh in India for the rapid healing of cuts and wounds. The ethanol extract of the shade-dried leaves of Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. was studied for its effect on wound healing in rats, using incision, excision and dead-space wound models, at two different dose levels of 400 and 800 mg/kg/body wt./day. The plant showed a definite, positive effect on wound healing, with a significant increase of the level of two powerful antioxidant enzymes, super oxide dismutase and catalase, in the granuloma tissue.